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Teaching puzzle-based learning: development of transferable skills
245-268Views:30While computer science and engineering students are trained to recognise familiar problems with known solutions, they may not be sufficiently prepared to address novel real-world problems. A successful computer science graduate does far more than just program and we must train our students to reach the required levels of analytical and computational thinking, rather than hoping that it will just 'develop'. As a step in this direction, we have created and experimented with a new first-year level course, Puzzle-based Learning (PBL), that is aimed at getting students to think about how to frame and solve unstructured problems. The pedagogical goal is increase students' mathematical awareness and general problem solving skills by employing puzzles, which are educational, engaging, and thought provoking. In this paper we continue sharing our experiences in teaching such a course. Whereas a brief discussion on our pedagogical objectives were covered in the first paper together with the material of the first of two lectures on pattern recognition, this follow-up paper presents the material of the second of two lectures, in which additional exercises are discussed to reinforce the lesson. Along the way we provide a glimpse of some foundational ideas of computer science such as incomputability and general system development strategies such as incremental and iterative reasoning. This paper discusses the outcomes of PBL courses, which include expected improvement in the overall results achieved by students who have undertaken PBL courses, compared to those students who have not. -
Problem-solving in mathematics with the help of computers
405-422Views:27One of the most important tasks of the didactics of mathematics is the describing of the process of problem-solving activity and problem-solving thinking. The psychological theories concerning the problem-solving thinking leave the special demand of school subjects out of consideration, and search for connections of universal validity. In this article we attempt to connect an abstract theory of psychology concerning problem-solving thinking and a more practical conception of the problem-solving activity of mathematics, which is based on Polya's idea. In this way we can get a structure of problem-solving, which has scientific bases and at the same time it is useful in computer aided learning. Our result was developed and tested in Hungary so this is suitable especially for the Hungarian conditions of mathematics teaching. -
Teaching puzzle-based learning: development of basic concepts
183-204Views:10While computer science and engineering students are trained to recognise familiar problems with known solutions, they may not be sufficiently prepared to address novel real-world problems. A successful computer science graduate does far more than just program and we must train our students to reach the required levels of analytical and computational thinking, rather than hoping that it will just 'develop'. As a step in this direction, we have created and experimented with a new first-year level course, Puzzle-based Learning (PBL), that is aimed at getting students to think about how to frame and solve unstructured problems. The pedagogical goal is increase students' mathematical awareness and general problem solving skills by employing puzzles, which are educational, engaging, and thought provoking. We share our experiences in teaching such a course – apart from a brief discussion on our pedagogical objectives, we concentrate on discussing the presented material which covers (in two lectures) just one selected topic (pattern recognition). In this paper we present the ideas behind foundations for PBL and the material of the first of two lectures on pattern recognition, in which we address core concepts and provide students with sufficient exemplars to illustrate the main points. -
Some logical issues in discrete mathematics and algorithmic thinking
243-258Views:93The role of logic in mathematics education has been widely discussed from the seventies and eighties during the “modern maths period” till now, and remains still a rather controversial issue in the international community. Nevertheless, the relevance of discrete mathematics and algorithmic thinking for the development of heuristic and logical competences is both one of the main points of the program of Tamás Varga, and of some didactic teams in France. In this paper, we first present the semantic perspective in mathematics education and the role of logic in the Hungarian tradition. Then, we present insights on the role of research problems in the French tradition. Finely, we raise some didactical issues in algorithmic thinking at the interface of mathematics and computer science.
Subject Classification: 97E30
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Cultivating algorithmic thinking: an important issue for both technical and HUMAN sciences
107-116Views:23Algorithmic thinking is a valuable skill that all people should master. In this paper we propose a one-semester, algorithm-oriented computer science course for human science students. According to our experience such an initiative could succeed only if the next recipe is followed: interesting and practical content + exciting didactical methods + minimal programming. More explicitly, we suggest: (1) A special, simple, minimal, pseudo-code like imperative programming language that integrates a graphic library. (2) Interesting, practical and problem-oriented content with philosophical implications. (3) Exciting, human science related didactical methods including art-based, inter-cultural elements. -
Problems of computer-aided assessment of mathematical knowledge
41-52Views:32Although conventional written and oral exams are dominant in assessment nowadays, computer-aided assessment is developing dynamically. There are several assessment systems, but most of them evaluate only multiple choice questions and even the most sophisticated ones cannot follow the process of thinking of students in detail. Why is it? In this article I will analyse the difficulties of the implementation of assessment system focused primarily on mathematics questions and present some of my experience related to the eMax system, developed at Óbuda University. -
Better understanding mathematics by algorithmic thinking and computer programming
295-305Views:109Tamás Varga’s mathematics education experiment covered not just mathematics, but also other related topics. In many of his works he clearly stated that computer science can support the understanding of mathematics as much as mathematics supports informatics. On the other hand, not much later than the introduction of the new curriculum in 1978, personal computers started to spread, making it possible to teach informatics in classes and in extracurricular activities. Varga’s guided discovery approach has a didactic value for other age groups as well, not only in primary school. Its long-lasting effect can be observed even in present times. Having reviewed several educational results in the spirit of Tamás Varga, we have decided to present an extracurricular course. It is an open study group for age 12-18. Students solve problems by developing Python programs and, according to our experiences, this results in a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.
Subject Classification: 97B10, 97B20, 97D50, 97N80, 97P20, 97P30, 97P40, 97P50, 97U70
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Zbigniew Michalewicz - Matthew Michalewicz: Puzzle Based Learning: An introduction to critical thinking, mathematics, and problem solving. Hybrid Publishers Melbourne 2008 (Book review)
415-420Views:30Based on their experiences with engineering, mathematics, computer science, business students concerning the puzzle based learning in different countries the authors summarize their main problem solving teaching ideas. With help of interesting, motivating, nice problems they analyze the main mathematical principles and problem types. The review gives an overview about the main ideas, results of an interesting book. -
Artworks as illustrations in Hungarian high school Mathematics textbooks
103-117Views:64Three different series of Hungarian Mathematics textbooks used in grade 9-12 education for the past 30 years have been analysed in this research. Our aim is to show and evaluate how the visual arts have been connected to mathematical ideas in these textbooks. We have applied the six dimensions of evaluation, which have recently been introduced in (Diego-Mantec on, Blanco, Búa Ares, & González Sequeiros, 2019) to categorise the illustrations of the three different series. We show examples for each dimension from the textbooks, and we find that even if the number of artistic illustrations in these coursebooks have significantly increased, in most cases these sporadic examples are not closely related to the mathematical context, mainly used for ornamental purposes to decorate the core text. Based on this classification we conclude that the number of artistic illustrations with underlying math concepts making students' participation more active could and should be significantly increased.
Subject Classification: 97U20
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CS unplugged in higher education
1-23Views:35Nowadays, there is a significant lack of workforce in the IT industry, even though it is one of the most lucrative professions. According to researchers' forecasts, the existing shortage is growing, so the wages offered will be higher, yet it seems that young people are not attracted to the profession. This problem draws attention to the need to change the curriculum so that it can attract students more. One possible solution is to supplement the curriculum with CS Unplugged activities, which makes it easier to understand and deepen difficult concepts and make IT lessons more colorful. In my article, besides presenting the already known CS Unplugged activities, I will deal with how this can be applied in Hungarian higher education as well.